Another pay-per-view is in the books for SmackDown, and the blue brand put on a very solid show. Matches over the two singles titles tore the house down, with John Cena, Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, the Miz, and Dolph Ziggler all delivering performances worthy of accolades.
The stakes were higher than mere championship gold, with a career on the line and legacy set to be proven, and No Mercy has once again proven the excellence of SmackDown’s limited roster and strong booking. Watch out, Raw–the “B show” might not be second fiddle for much longer.
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785308497734807552
Don’t miss the full results below from our own Thomas Hall, as well as a selection of video highlights from the show.
Results
AJ Styles b. John Cena and Dean Ambrose – Chair shot to Cena
Nikki Bella b. Carmella – Rack Attack 2.0
Heath Slater/Rhyno b. Usos – Gore to Jey
Baron Corbin b. Jack Swagger – End of Days
Dolph Ziggler b. The Miz – Superkick
Naomi b. Alexa Bliss – Rollup
Bray Wyatt b. Randy Orton – Sister Abigail
No Mercy 2016
Date: October 9, 2016
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, John Bradshaw Layfield, David Otunga
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=4CDJ0kvCHhE
On the pre-show, Curt Hawkins comes out, says hello to San Francisco, and then leaves because he only said he was stepping in the ring. His first match is Tuesday.
Pre-Show: American Alpha/Hype Bros vs. Ascension/Vaudevillains
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=BqunKSkCt3k
Bonus match. Gable and English get things going and it’s already time for an NXT chant. Both Vaudevillains are thrown into the corner and English takes a double hiptoss. Viktor and Ryder come in and guess which one the fans like best. It’s off to Mojo for some dancing and a clothesline for two. Ryder tags himself in and everything breaks down so a quadruple clothesline can put the bad guys on the floor.
Back from a break with Ryder in trouble with English grabbing a chinlock. They head outside with Konor being sent into the barricade and then missing a charge into the post, allowing the hot tag to Jordan. Everything breaks down again and the Grand Amplitude ends English at 9:13.
Result: American Alpha/Hype Bros b. Ascension/Vaudevillians – Grand Amplitude to English (9:13)
The opening video features a voice asking for mercy for the sins about to take place.
Smackdown World Title: Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=tdjyoIsKlZs
AJ is defending and the fans do not like Cena in northern California. For a change of pace, we get a long recap video after all three guys have their entrances. Short version: AJ has beaten them both and they’re both going after the title at the same time. It’s a big jawing session to start before all three fail at their finishers in the first minute. Ambrose takes over with some of his brawling and takes AJ outside for a few rams into the announcers’ table.
Cena follows them out but walks into a slingshot Phenomenal Forearm. Back in and Cena German suplexes both of them at the same time (Mauro: “MAMA MIA!”) but AJ flips out of the AA and Pele’s Cena down. AJ moonsaults into the reverse DDT on Ambrose and grabs a regular version on Cena for a bonus. Ambrose is tossed outside and hits the steps, leaving Cena to grab a Code Red for two on the champ.
httpss://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/785276160527654913
In something you don’t often see in a triple threat, AJ and Cena trade sleepers but Ambrose comes in and grabs one of his own. That goes nowhere so Cena initiates his finishing sequence on Ambrose until Styles makes the save with another German suplex. The finishers don’t work again so Ambrose and Styles suplex each other, leaving Cena to come in and pick up the pieces.
A Ten Knuckle Shuffle doesn’t appear to do much damage because it’s just a fist drop so Cena goes with an AA and STF on Ambrose. Styles makes the save and gets two on Ambrose with the springboard 450. The Styles Clash takes Ambrose out but Cena grabs the STF on the champ. Ambrose saves that so Cena picks them both up for the AA at the same time.
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785276838385885184
Neither guy gets flipped though as AJ escapes and Dean clotheslines Cena down. The Calf Crusher has Cena in trouble but Ambrose makes the save. Dean puts AJ in the Calf Crusher while Cena gets an STF, making AJ tap at 19:27. That doesn’t count though because it’s a double submission so the match continues. Dean gets two off Dirty Deeds with AJ pulling the referee out. Cena comes right back with the super AA but Styles blasts Cena with a chair to retain at 21:39.
Result: AJ Styles b. Dean Ambrose and John Cena – Chair to Cena (21:39)
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785277761661263872
We recap Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton. Wyatt targeted Orton for whatever reason (like he has logical reasons) and they were scheduled to fight last month but Orton’s injuries prevented it from happening. Their big showdown is tonight and there’s a possibility that Sister Abigail is lurking.
Carmella vs. Nikki Bella
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=MNVPhyHgJB0
Standard “you’re famous but I’m better than you” feud. Carmella goes right after her to start but gets thrown outside. Nikki follows her out and is tossed into the LED board to mess her neck up all over again. Back in and we hit the chinlock on Nikki, followed by the moonwalk into the Bronco Buster for two. Carmella cranks on the neck even more before just pulling on the hair.
A quick Bella Buster and small package get two each on Carmella but she grabs the Code of Silence. Nikki isn’t about to sell a neck hold though and powers up, followed by the big forearm. Another Code of Silence sends Nikki to the ropes and the Rack Attack 2.0 (TKO) is enough to pin Carmella at 8:05.
Result: Nikki Bella b. Carmella – Rack Attack 2.0 (8:05)
Miz comes up to the bosses and says Daniel Bryan and Ziggler will have a lot in common after tonight. Miz: “Maryse, say adieu.” Maryse: “Adieu.”
Tag Team Titles: Heath Slater/Rhyno vs. Usos
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=1trKI6fOcxI
Usos are challenging. Jimmy pops Slater in the face to start so the fans remind Jimmy that SLATER HAS KIDS. Jey comes in and lets us know that he has kids too. An early chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s off to Rhyno for a running shoulder to the ribs. The running Umaga attack puts Rhyno down for two as the fans aren’t exactly thrilled with this so far. Rhyno fights out of a chinlock but gets dragged into the Uso corner to keep him in trouble. The twins keep taking turns on Rhyno until Jimmy runs into an elbow in the corner.
That’s enough for a hot tag as Slater comes in to clean house but the fans still aren’t getting into it. Everything breaks down and the fans get behind the champs as Jimmy punches Slater in the face. Heath is right back up though and powerslams Jimmy off the top for two. It’s time to go after Heath’s leg but Rhyno breaks up the Tequila Sunrise. Rhyno Gores Jey to retain at 10:17.
Result: Heath Slater/Rhyno b. Usos – Gore to Jey (10:17)
Bray Wyatt speaks in tongues before shifting to He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.
Quick recap of Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger. Corbin lost to Swagger via submission but claimed he was reaching for the ropes instead of tapping out, which the video seems to back up. It’s nice to have a rematch over something that makes sense instead of just having one after someone wins clean.
Baron Corbin vs. Jack Swagger
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=nmX2uo78VjE
Corbin goes right after him to start and sends Swagger outside to crush his hand between the steps and the post. Back in and Swagger starts wrenching at the bad hand before getting two off a hard clothesline. Swagger drops him close to onto the post but the hand keeps Jack from following up. Something like a belly to belly plants Corbin, who comes right back with a Deep Six for two more. One heck of a clothesline drops Corbin and it’s off to the Patriot Lock. This time Corbin makes the rope and pokes Swagger in the eyes, setting up End of Days for the pin at 7:27.
Result: Baron Corbin b. Jack Swagger – End of Days (7:27)
We recap Ziggler vs. Miz. Ziggler has lost two straight title shots and is on a major losing streak. He has to win one big match though and is willing to put up his career for one more shot.
Intercontinental Title: The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=73sZQAA32xc
Ziggler is challenging and has his career on the line. Dolph tries to take it to the mat to start but opts for a pair of dropkicks instead. Miz comes back with with a double underhook crank before doing Daniel Bryan’s YES double knee stomp. The Reality Check gets two but Ziggler comes back with another dropkick. The Fameasser is countered into a slingshot sitout powerbomb and a rollup with a handful of tights gets two on Ziggler.
Miz changes gears by going after the knee with a dropkick to the back of the leg. That means the Figure Four goes on and it’s time for the long screaming session from Ziggler. A rope is grabbed and Ziggler comes back with a Rough Ryder of all things for two.
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785294745698390016
Ziggler is sent head first into an exposed buckle, setting up another slingshot sitout powerbomb for two. Miz is so furious that he gets caught in the Zig Zag for a VERY close near fall. The Skull Crushing Finale is countered into a rollup for two more so it’s off to a sleeper on the champ. Miz gets the ropes and hits the Skull Crushing Finale, only to have Ziggler get his boot on the ropes.
Miz rips Ziggler’s boot off and walks into a superkick but Ziggler’s injured leg delays the cover. Cue the Spirit Squad for a distraction so Ziggler superkicks Mikey down. The Skull Crushing Finale gets another red hot two count and Miz is ticked. The referee finally ejects everyone from ringside and it’s a superkick from Ziggler for the pin and the title at 19:33.
Result: Dolph Ziggler b. The Miz – Superkick (19:33)
httpss://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/785297723117309952
Pre-show recap.
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=lU3UDY3vT_M
Naomi is replacing an injured Becky Lynch, who will defend against Bliss on November 8 from Glasgow, Scotland. Bliss goes after her to start but gets dropped into the corner for the split legged moonsault. Naomi kicks Bliss away but gets her arm cranked to put Alexa in control. Bliss: “I DON’T LIKE YOU!” A dropkick knocks Bliss away and the Rear View gets two. Alexa grabs a cross armbreaker but gets rolled up for the completely clean pin at 5:01.
Result: Naomi b. Alexa Bliss – Rollup (5:01)
Hell in a Cell ad.
We recap Orton vs. Wyatt again, this time focusing on Wyatt tormenting Orton and playing mind games.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=ftKNvp0O9h0
Bray laughs throughout Orton’s entrance. An early lockup sends Bray outside for a bit before it’s time to slug it out. The threat of Sister Abigail sends the fight outside again with Orton being thrown over the announcers’ table. Bray sends him into the steps and does the Orton pose before taking him back in for the running backsplash.
The slow beating continues with more clotheslines and a chinlock. Bray takes his sweet time going to the middle rope and misses the backsplash, which would have missed by two feet even if Orton hadn’t rolled away. Some forearms don’t have much effect for Orton so he goes with clotheslines.
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785305352942137344
The snap powerslam gets two on Bray but the RKO is countered into Sister Abigail which is countered into a rollup for two more. Bray plants him with the release Rock Bottom and it’s back to the floor, only to have Bray miss another backsplash onto the steps. A belly to back suplex onto the barricade sets up Orton’s elevated DDT…..and there go the lights. Luke Harper shows up in the ring for a distraction and it’s Sister Abigail for the pin on Orton at 15:37.
Result: Bray Wyatt b. Randy Orton – Sister Abigail (15:37)
httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785308906322923520